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WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama, having obviously done his homework on the Denver Broncos, opened Monday's ceremony to honor the Super Bowl 50 champions with "Omaha. Omaha. 44 is the Mike.'' Obama, the nation's most high-profile Chicago Bears fan, then offered that it didn't seem to "work as well for me as it did for them.'' In what was a light-hearted celebration and recognition of the Broncos' Super Bowl win, Obama recognized the team's defense, including linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware as well as defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and joked about the "heart and soul'' of the team's "offensive firepower'' in kicker Brandon McManus.  The president included wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas in his remarks as well as quarterback Peyton Manning and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. Broncos coach Gary Kubiak gave some brief remarks just before Bowlen's wife, Annabel, presented the president with a No. 44 jersey -- Floyd Little's retired number with the team -- as the 44th president was also given a Broncos helmet. "I need a helmet,'' President Obama joked. "When you spend a lot of time in Washington, you get knocked around a little bit.'' The helmet presented to Obama was signed by the team. The Broncos tweeted a picture of Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway signing the helmet on the plane ride to Washington on Monday. President Obama also spoke at length about Manning. He said Manning was enjoying his retirement and told the president he "should look into it.'' The president said he faced term limits so that decision was something he didn't have to worry about. The Broncos' day included a tour of the White House, and several members of the team, including Kubiak and Manning, met with members of the Wounded Warriors program before the ceremony and Manning threw some passes with the veterans. Many of the team's former players, including tight end Owen Daniels, wide receiver Andre Caldwell, defensive end Malik Jackson and linebacker Danny Trevathan, made the trip. Miller doesn't currently have a contract as his representatives and the Broncos try to work out a long-term deal, and he has not attended the Broncos' offseason program, but Miller said after the event he was "really glad I made the trip,'' and added "I wouldn't want to miss a chance to meet the president.'' The team quickly headed to the airport following the ceremony to return to Denver. The Broncos begin their mandatory minicamp Tuesday and it runs through Thursday.
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